Simanggang Recreation Club
In the Rajah era, elsewhere in major towns of Sarawak, the government constructed buildings which they termed recreation clubs especially for government officers to spend their leisure time. In the club, one could enjoy playing billiards, sitting around, drinking, reading or even dancing. In Simanggang, the club was situated at a hill-top, just at the place where the statues of the two white pigeons are.
According to record, Simanggang Recreation Club was officially-open by Resident F.A.W. Page-Turner at 8 p.m. on 30th January, 1930. The opening ceremony was greeted by fusillades of Chinese crackers. A tape of Sarawak colours was stretched across the porch and the Resident, after his speech, cut the tape with a Dayak parang. Then, the Resident and his subordinate staff, native officers, towkays, and elders of the Malay and Dayak community, 44 persons in all, entered. The hall was beautifully decorated with Chinese lanterns. The ceremony ended with singing and dancing.
Another record shows that the club was rebuilt and redecorated and was reopened on 31st December, 1952. Now it was more spacious and airy. The raised wooden floor was taken away and a concrete floor was completed at ground level. All wooden pillars in the centre removed.
References:
Sarawak Gazette:1/4/1930 & 31/3/1954
No comments:
Post a Comment